PDGA Member Discounts

[iheartdiscgolf]

In case you missed this from the PDGA Announcements section...

Greetings,

LaQuinta Inns & Suites is offering a 15% discount nationwide to PDGA members! The best ways to book would be on-line at LaQuinta PDGA Reservations using the corporate rate code (PDGA) or by calling 1-800-SLEEPLQ (or calling the hotel directly) and referencing the Professional Disc Golf Association. Walk-ins are also welcome, but to guarantee availability please book ahead of time.

Also, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is once again offering a 10% discount for PDGA members. They were extremely grateful for our business in 2007 that they were eager to provide service to us again for 2008. www.enterprise.com The corporate rate code is: 17D7907

Thank you all in advance for supporting LaQunita Inns & Suites and Enterprise. The more business they receive the more eager they will be to sponsor our members for years to come.

I will be working to obtain more discounts for you so watch the website for updates!

Let it Fly,
~Addie

PDGA Memberships Manager

[Jeff_LaG]

Addie,

Is the Professional Disc Golf Association Members discount at Microtel Inns and Suites still valid?

[chrispfrisbee]

Are these major corporations donating any cash to the "NT" or "Major" events?

[krupicka]

In a way ... directly to some traveling pro's pocketbooks.

[bcary93]

I will be working to obtain more discounts for you so watch the website for updates!

This is good stuff ! Definitely moving in the right direction.

[ck34]

In a way ... directly to some traveling pro's pocketbooks.

They wish...

[chrispfrisbee]

I'm just saying......

The PDGA has alot of members that travel to play in events.

I don't know the specifics of the deal that the PDGA made with these companies but it seems like funneling 5000 current members to their hotels & rent-a-cars could translate into some serious revenue for them. It would be nice to see them sponsor some "NT" or "Major" events putting some serious cash in the purses.

What I'm not saying is that I don't appreciate this discount, it is, by itself, a good thing. Membership has its priveledges! [img]/msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[iheartdiscgolf]

Hi Jeff and all,

Absolutely! Microtel is definitely a strong supporter of disc golf. We encourage all tournament directors to use Microtel for host hotels, meeting facilities, etc. However, because they are independently owned, the corporate office is unable to extend discounts nationwide...granted they do offer excellent rates on a given. The page you are referencing was/is a way for Microtel to track the traffic of disc golfers. Due to our business with them, Microtel is a cash sponsor as well as funding the Microtel Disc Golfer of the Week program. We are most grateful to have them on board.

In comparison, LaQuinta is offering discounts to our members as a way to track the traffic. Once they see business from disc golfers they may also want to contribute more, either through cash sponsorships or larger discounts to our members. Wether they do offer more in the future is unknown; however, we sure can enjoy the discounts in the meantime.

Traveling is such a huge expense for ALL skill levels, not just professionals (in reference to Mike's post), so this is a benefit to everyone that travels.

This is high membership season. If you have any concerns/questions please email me at the address below as I may not see a post that requires my attention. Thanks in advance for understanding.

Take care,
~Addie
aisbell@pdga.com

[ck34]

Microtel is a cash sponsor as well as funding the Microtel Disc Golfer of the Week program.

Who's coordinating this program in 2008 and where is the website to see the winners and criteria?

[Jeff_LaG]

Thanks, Addie!

[Dick]

"funneling 5000 current members to their hotels & rent-a-cars could translate into some serious revenue for them."

that's some funny stuff! You may have a future in comedy!

Seriously, how many PDGA members do you think rented a car or stayed in a hotel for an event last year? I'm sure there are some, but much more likely 6 of them piled into one room and one car. Or camped onsite and drove their vw microbus...

I think getting the discounts is great though Addie! Keep up the good work. It's a great first step towards getting sponsorship.

[ck34]

No one says the discount has to be for an event. PDGA members and families travel and can stay at these places regardless whether it's specifically for disc golf competition. I've stayed at Microtel for many more days when I wasn't competing than competing, for example, and I know of several others such as Board members.

[sandalman]

i dunno Dick. theres a whole segment that travels with the family and stays in motels/hotels. lots of players prefer hotels and motels over a pillow and a space on the floor - the masters age players dont seem to mind a nice motel room. the big challenge with microtel is that the deal doesnt automatically extend to locally owned motels, so it is a bit hit or miss. still, for when it works its great if you dont already have some way of getting a favorable rate.

[Vanessa]

There certainly are disc golfers who are typically stay in hotels, or who need to rent a car when they have flown to a tournament!

I've been there and done that on the floor (I remember when our entire Ultimate team used to fit into one motel room!). That's great - and there's also a lot of fun to be had staying with friends old and new. But these days, we appreciate a hot shower and clean sheets!

And not only do we often pile the whole family (or various parts of it) into the car and head to an event a dozen or more times a year, we also go on disc golf vacations.

La Quinta and Microtel are pretty budget-friendly. La Quinta is also consistently pet friendly and has really good breakfasts. We'll use all the discounts we can find - its great to have a chance to support them supporting us!

[chrispfrisbee]

"funneling 5000 current members to their hotels & rent-a-cars could translate into some serious revenue for them."

that's some funny stuff! You may have a future in comedy!

I'm sorry, my bad, it's actually 6,593 current members, AND GROWING!

[MTL21676]

Seriously, how many PDGA members do you think rented a car or stayed in a hotel for an event last year?

I did.

At worlds I flew into Minnepolis, used my 10% PDGA discount from enterprise to get my car (which I will again do this year and I made sure I told them I was a PDGA member and what I was there for and how much I appreciated thier support) and then I went to the host hotel where I did the exact same thing.

Every time I stay in a host hotel or somethign along those lines I let them know that I am a disc golfer and I travel and I spend money and my hard earned money is going to their hotel and I appreciate them lowering thier rates and supporting the tournament so I can hopefully break even this weekend.

[sandalman]

do you ever break even? its actually pretty tough to do

[tbender]

Seriously, how many PDGA members do you think rented a car or stayed in a hotel for an event last year?

I spent 20 nights last year in h/motels for DG, and 40 the two years prior (all pretty much LQ too!). I'd rather have a place to get away from the all-night poker game and/or putting contest if I choose.

[MTL21676]

do you ever break even? its actually pretty tough to do

I actually made some money at some events last year due to some high cashes / local events at home.

I'm guessing I broke even / made money 11 times last year.

I pay for the love of competition and the love of getting out and playing different courses. Any money I spend is budgeted out, all money I win is just a bonus.

[Dick]

again, i'm not saying members don't. i certainly have stayed in rooms and rented cars. but the majority don't i'm sure. next event you run check out how many people flew, rented a car or have a hotel room they aren't sharing with more than 1 other person. unless it's a major or a tier, likely you can count them on one hand if there are any.

my point is that they aren't bringing in money hand over fist on us as the poster i was replying to suggested. I think offering a discount is a good start. if people would start going to their hotel and making sure to mention they were there through the pdga and such, maybe someday they would move up to major cash sponsor. i think pdga members should make it a point to support pdga sponsors and let them know that's why you are there.

we now resume your regularly scheduled comedy....

[Dick]

"6,593 current members, AND GROWING! "

wow, someday we may catch up to the national paper rock scissors association....

if we set a reasonable goal, say 20 members per course, how many members would we have? do the math....

[MTL21676]

i think pdga members should make it a point to support pdga sponsors and let them know that's why you are there.

I 100% agree.

As stated above, I do exactly this.

[will24411]

Do you have to be a member to take advantage of these discounts?

[rollinghedge]

D'oh!

[will24411]

Do you have to be a member to take advantage of these discounts?

Let me expand what i was meaning, so I could tell a friend down here about these offers, whose not a pdga member, and could they use them? I don't see a way for these places to validate the pdga membership.. (unless you show em your card.. or something)

[gnduke]

You could do the same thing with most corporate discount rates.

There is really not much checking done in most cases.

AAA is about the simplest of them, but I've only been asked for my card once.

[lauranovice]

They looked at me kind of funny when I booked a room using my mom's AARP membership...until she got out of the car and came into the lobby.
They may look at her kind of funny if she booked a room using the PDGA membership.
Whatever, thanks to whomever secured these discounts.
I think it is a great way to promote disc golf.

[Dick]

and probably the more people who punch in that pdga code the better. People using the discount, menas people using their services that are attributable to the PDGA since they likely can track how many uses the code gets. SO if you have a choice of different codes for the same discount, using the pdga's would help us more than say, AAA or AARP.

[tbender]

Or LMD, if you book inside of 3 weeks.

[hmrnkngjc25]

You don't have to be a member. Had my girlfriend use the enterprise code on her spring break. No problems at all, just asked is she was playing.